Foot shield



Sept. 26, 1950 J. J. BOUGHEY FOOT SHIELD Filed Aug. 21, 1948 ma 7 W 9 2 MW 15. M Q

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Patented Sept. 26, 1950 FOOT SHIELD Jeremiah Boughey, Chicago, Ill-., assignor of one-third to 3'. Roy Abell, Evanston, and onethird to George E. Semple, Park Ridge, Ill.

Application August 21, 1M8, Serial N 0. 45,530

shields and it consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. The invention is more especially concerned with a shield adapted for use upon a so-called workmans safety shoe to protect the instep part of his foot, between the ankle and toes, from injury due to objects which may fall or otherwise engage thereon. A foot shield of this kind is illustrated and described in my copendin application for Letters Patent SerialNo. 677,127, filed June 17, 1946, and cross reference is hereby made to such application, which discloses and claims certain subject matter herein shown, but not claimed.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved structure of the type mentioned and which is adapted for a ready attachment to and detachment from the heel of a shoe with which the shield is to be used.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a structure of this kind, supporting means for the shield body, which may be manipulated to compensate for differences in the angle of the front face of the heel, due to variations found in commercial shoe manufacture.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple arrangement of parts whereby the shield body may be quickly applied to and removed from its support attached to the heel and which arrangement of parts includes a novel spring means for preventing accidental displacement of the body relatively to its support.

The above mentioned objects of the invention, as well as others, together with the advantages thereof will more fully appear as the specification proceeds.

In the drawing:,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved foot shield in place upon a workmans shoe.

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the parts appearing in Fig. l. on a scale somewhat enlarged there-.

over.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view through a part of the improved foot shield structure as taken on the line 3-3 and on a scale enlarged over that of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail verticalsectional view as taken on the line i l of Fig.2 and on the scale of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a shield body supporting member forming a part of the invention and which will be described in more detail later. 7

Referring now in detail to that embodiment '7 Claims. (Cl. 36Z2) of the invention illustrated in the drawing, the improved shield includes a shield body ll] preferably formed of sheet metal or other light strong material and of a length adapted to cover that part of the instep 0f the foot upon which a workmans shoe H is worn. The shield body is an open-bottomed member of an inverted generally U-shape cross section, transversely considered, and it includes a top central portion [.2 and side portions Iii-i3.

The lower rear end part of each side portion carries an inwardly extending relatively short stud it, havin a radial flange or shoulder ill at the inner end thereof and thesestudsare axially aligned with each other. The shield body has the reatest depth at its rear end so as to cover that part of the instep forward of the ankle, and has the least depth at its front end, which is adapted to overlap and engage upon the hard so-called' safety toe of the shoe which includes a stiff box metal cap it that appears in Fig. 1.

Associated with the shield body is means adapted for attachment to the shoe and worn therewith, and to which the shield body may be detachah'ly engaged without the use of tools or other devices. Said means includes a generally il-shape bracket or clip H, which best appears in perspective in Fig. 5. It is of a length at)- proximating but slightly greater than the width of the sole ill: of the associated shoe II at the shank under the instep and just forwardly 'of theheel H).- of the shoe. This bracket or clip includes a fiat body 20 having an upstanding arm 2i at each end and in each arm is a slotlike recess 2.2 that is-directed upwardly and forwardly to. open through the upper top front end portion of the associated arm. This recess has a width approximating the diameter of a stud it. .Gn the. inside of eacharm 2i is a stud. 23, for supporting the convolutions 24 of a double *endedspring finger 25 which best appears in Fig.4. The finger 25 includes a short part 25 and a longer part 2?. The short part 26 is anchored in a hole in the associated arm below and to one: side of the axis of the stud 23. The longer part 27 is made as a loop 28 and a portion of the overhangs a part of the assoelated recess. 22 and another portion projects. upwardly above the associated arm to act as a trigger whereby the finger may be manipulated, when necessary. These parts best appear in Fig. 4..

At each-inside corner of this bracket'or clip, as formed by the junction of the arms. 2|, with the fiat body 20, is fixed a hollow cylinder 29 of a length approximating the width of the body.

Each cylinder is open at its front end and isclosed at its rear end by a wall 30 and in said wall is a central opening 3|. Along the rear edge of the body there is provided a pair of rearwardly projecting integral prongs 32 and 33 respectively adapted for engagement with the front face of the heel l9. These prongs are designed so that they may be bent either toward or away from the body in the direction of the plane therefor. In the commercial manufacture of shoes, the heels in the various shoes are not always so applied that the front face of the heel extends across the shank of the sole in a uniform manner. Thus, by bending the prongs either toward or away from the body, it is possible to compensate for any irregularities in the disposition of the front face of the heel so that when the bracket I1 is applied to the shoe, it will be perpendicular to the center line of the shoe, as appears in Fig. 2.

To apply the bracket to the shoe, place the bracket I! in position with the body thereof perpendicular to the center line of the shoe, but with the prongs 32, 33 slightly forward of the front face of the heel. Then move the bracket as a whole rearwardly, keeping the body perpendicular to the center line of the shoe until one of the prongs 32 or 33 engage the front face of the heel. If both prongs simultaneously engage the front face, the parts are properly positioned. If, however, one prong engages first, then the other prong should be bent away from the body portion 20 and toward the heel until it engages the front face of the heel.

34 indicates a U-shaped member whereby the bracket or clip I! may be detachably but rigidly secured to the shoe. This member is formed to encompass the back and parts of the sides of the heel and its two arms 35--35 which are directly forwardly, are spaced apart laterally to pass through the openings 3l3l in the ends 3|] of the cylinders 29. When said arms have been passed through said openings, the threaded front ends thereof extend forwardly of the open front end of the associated cylinder and engaged on the end of each arm is a nut 36. Disposed upon the threaded end of each arm 35 between the closed end of the associated cylinder 29 and nut 36 is an expansion coiled spring 31, a major portion of which is protectively confined in the cylinder. The nut 36 acts as an adjustable stop for the spring whereby the tension thereof may be regulated, not only to draw the member 34 into engagement with the back of the heel but to urge the prongs 32-33 of the bracket [1 toward the face of the heel. When the heels are made of rubber or similar material, as they usually are, the prongs 3233 may sink slightly into the face of the heel. This condition is illustrated in somewhat exaggerated order in Fig. 2. In any event, whether the heel be of rubber, leather, or other material, the bracket is rigidly attached to the shoe against displacement in normal use.

When the bracket or clip I! has been applied to the shoe and occupies the position thereon shown in Fig. 2, it lies flat against the shank of the sole so that its body is disposed above the plane of the bottom wearing surface of the heel ll. After the bracket is'in iposition upon the shoe, the shield body is taken in hand with its rear end directed somewhat downwardly and is then engaged over the instep of the shoe so that its studs 14 line up with and will each enter the 'upper end of an associated recess 22 in the arms of the bracket until said studs engage the lower parts of the spring loop '28 which overhang and partly close off said recesses 22. At this time the flange or shoulder 15 at the inner end of each stud is spaced inwardly from an associated arm 2|. Further downward and rearward pressure, applied to the upper rear end of the shield body, will cause said studs to force the loops 2B of the spring fingers 25 outwardly so that said studs will pass the same to enter further into the recesses 22 after which the loops 28 snap back to resiliently confine the studs in said recesses in a manner permitting them to turn axially when necessary in the movement the shield body has on the shoe in walking. To remove the shield body, an upward and forward pull thereon will cause the studs to pass the loops 28 which, of course, yield for this purpose.

With the foot shield in position, the wearer can walk and. use the foot in a normal or natural manner, without hindrance or interference.

The facility with which the user may walk about encourages the use by workmen of the safety shield. Because of the ease with which the shield body may be made and applied, the workman may, if he so desires, quickly remove the shield body in case he is to spend any appreciable time in a non-dangerous activity, such as walking a considerable distance during the lunch hour.

While in describing the invention I have referred in detail to the form and arrangement of the parts thereof, the same is to be considered only in the illustrative sense and therefore I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A foot shield embodying therein a shell-like body adapted to fit over at least the instep of a shoe, means including a member adapted to extend transversely of the sole of the shoe at the front of the heel thereof and having an upwardly extending arm at each end thereof adapted to be positioned at each side of the shoe, said arms and said body having coacting parts whereby said body may be detachably connected to said arms in operative relation upon the shoe, means for encompassing the sides and the back of the heel, said means including forwardly extending end portions, means on said first mentioned means providing a guided bearing for said forwardly extending end portions, and spring means carried by said first mentioned means adjacent each upwardly extending arm and operatively engaged with an associated one of said end portions and reacting with a straight line pull thereon to cause said member and encompassing means to engage the front and rear of the heel respectively for holding said member in place.

2. A foot shield embodying therein a shell-like body adapted to fit over at least the instep of a shoe, means including a member adapted to extend transversely of the sole of the shoe at the front of the heel thereof and having an upwardly extending arm at each end thereof adapted to be positioned at each side of the shoe, said arms and said body having coacting parts whereby said body may be detachably connected to said arms in operative relation upon the shoe, means for encompassing the sides and back of the heel, said means including forwardly extending end portions, means on said first mentioned means adjacent each arm providing a guided bearing for each of said forwardly extending end portions, spring means operatively disposed upon with a stop thereon and each engaged at the other end with a part of said guided bearing means and reacting with a straight line pull to cause said member and encompassing means to engage the front and rear of the heel respectively fo holding said member in place.

3. A foot shield embodying therein a shell-like body adapted to fit over at least the instep of a shoe, means including a member adapted to extend transversely of the sole of the shoe at the front of the heel thereof and having an upwardly extending arm at each end thereof adapted to be positioned at each side of the shoe, said arms and said body having coacting parts whereby said body may be detachably connected to said arms in operative relation upon the shoe, means for encompassing the sides and the back of the heel, said means including forwardly extending end portions, means on said first mentioned means providing a guided bearing for said forwardly extending end portions, said means including a hollow cylinder at each side of said first mentioned means and which is open at its front end and is closed at its rea end and through which an associated end portion of said encompassing means has sliding guided engagement, a spring surrounding each end portion and disposed at least in part at one end in an associated cylinder and engaged with the closed end thereof, and a stop on each end portion forwardly of said cylinder and with which the other end of said spring is engaged.

4. A foot shield embodying therein a she11-1ike body adapted to fit over at least the instep of a shoe, means including a member adapted to extend transversely of the sole of the shoe at the front of the heel thereof and having an arm at each end thereof extending upwardly to be positioned at each side of the shoe, said arms and said body having coacting parts whereby said body may be detachably connected to said arms in operative position upon the shoe, means on said member engaged directly with the front face of the heel, means for encompassing the sides and the back of the heel, said means including forwardly extending end portions and spring means carried at least in part by said member and operatively engaged with said end portions and reacting to cause said encompassing means to engage the rear of the heel and. the means on said membe to engage the front face of the heel for holding said member in place.

5. A foot shield embodying therein a shell-like body adapted to fit over at least the instep of a shoe, means including a member adapted to extend transversely of the sole of the shoe at the front of the heel thereof and having an arm at each end thereof extending upwardly to be positioned at each side of the shoe, said arms and said body having coacting parts whereby said body may be detachably connected to said arms in operative position upon the shoe, a plurality of prongs integral with and extending rearwardly from and in the plane of said member of said first mentioned means and at least one of which prongs is bendable so that said member may be adjusted relative to the front face of the heel when necessary, and means for holding said member in position with said prongs in engagement with the front face of the heel.

6. A foot shield embodying therein a shell-like body adapted to fit over the instep of a shoe, means adapted for attachment to the heel of the shoe and including upwardly directed arms for arrangement with side parts of the shoe forwardly of the heel thereof, said shell-like body including side portions, rear end parts of which are disposed adjacent said arms, said rear end parts each having an upwardly and forwardly directed opening therein and said rea end part of the side portions of the shell-like body having inwardly extending studs for engagement in said slots, each stud having a flange-like shoulder spaced inwardly from said arms, and spring means carried on the inner face of each arm and including parts, each normally overlying a part of an associated slot to releasably engage an associated stud between an associated arm and an associated shoulder thereon.

7. A device for supporting, at least in part, a shell-like body adapted to fit over the instep of a shoe, said device including a member having a body portion adapted to be positioned transversely of the shoe forwardly of the front face of the heel, and a plurality of prong portions on the body, at least one of which is bendable in the plane of the body to enable both prongs to engage the front face of the heel when the body is properly positioned transversely of the shoe, and means for holding the device in position adjacent the heel of a shoe.

JEREMIAH J. BOUGHEY.

No references cited. 

